Design is often associated with aesthetics, how something looks. Although important on one level, it captures a small portion of design. Good design relates and provides value to anyone who interacts with it. This is the bar to which we hold students in the Innovation Lab.

A Distinct Approach

The Middle School program is designed to nurture the intellectual, ethical, social/emotional and physical development of young scholars during their transition from childhood to adolescence. During this time, we challenge our young people to develop independent thinking, innovation and leadership. Students prepare for the Upper School by gradually transitioning from fixed classrooms with one teacher to rotating classrooms with multiple teachers. Students experiencing such rapid growth flourish in an educational environment that is distinctly different from either the Lower or Upper School models.

Our young scholars experience a dramatic shift in both their cognitive abilities and their socioemotional awareness. We foster this growth by structuring the curriculum around discussions and activities that connect the subjects learned in the classroom with the world beyond our walls. Emphasis on organization, critical thinking and treating everyone with dignity is central to all learning and aligns with our mission.

We are focused on building our team; a team that is led by students and supported by teachers. Given this model, it is important to be a community of dedicated educators. We inspire our students to take risks; to master a task despite the number of attempts; to push through obstacles and to articulate or defend an idea regardless if in the end we find successes or failure. Inspiration arouses a student from indifference to opportunity and is best supported in a collaborative forum.

Character

Middle School faculty value each “teachable moment,” taking opportunities to prepare students for personal growth and social responsibility.

Character development is a critical component of curriculum on all grade levels.

Grades 5–6: gender-specific life-skills classes

Grades 7–8: “Facing History and Ourselves” project explores the concepts of citizenship, tolerance and understanding.

Scholar

The academic curriculum provides core courses that challenge the intellectual artistic and athletic development of each student and electives that spark new passions.

Foundational courses include English, mathematics, science, history and world languages.

Enriching co-curriculum includes a variety of electives including public speaking, forensic science, drafting, multimedia and environmental science.

Progress of each student is monitored by an advisor, the grade level team of teachers, the dean of students and the Middle School director.

Artist

The Arts at La Jolla Country Day School (LJCDS) give students endless opportunities for expression and self-discovery in a variety of media. On-campus art exhibitions, performances of Shakespeare’s plays in the Four Flowers Theater and the Pep Band are just a few examples. Various opportunities exist:

Drawing

3D Art

Engineering Design and Construction

Painting

Drama

Dance

Technical Theater

Band

Strings

Vocal Music

Athlete

The athletic program provides students opportunities to develop physically, mentally, socially and emotionally. Grades 5–6 students focus on building skills that will help them compete in the interscholastic teams available to Grades 7–8 students. Athletic options include: